Felting device.



E. l. NOBLE.

FELTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, I9I2.

Patented July 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventar: by Q1 Atti,

EDWARD il'. NOBLE, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

FELTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1915.

Application filed May 4, 1912. Serial NQ. 695,020.

To all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, EDWARD J. NOBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Felting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the felting or transferring of material composed mainly of wood pulpand diffused in water from such fluid medium to molds upon which the felted layer is shaped and afterward appropriately treated.

The purpose of the invention is to assist in the production of the body of a hollow container which is substantially of the shape of the frustum of a cone. which the container is to be made is wood pulp, or similar fiber, diffused in water with or without an admixture of other ingredients. It is intended that from this mass of pulp there shall be picked up a certain quantity of material which shall be automatically transferred to the inner member of a mold upon which the body of the container` shall afterward be `formed an`d treated.

In the d awin'gs Figure 1 is an end elevation and partial vertical section of a device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical secti'on on a plane at right angles to the section plane of Fig. 1: Fig. 3 sa vertical section on the plane of the line 3 -3 in Fig. Q: Fig. 4 is a detail in section on the plane of the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. and Fig. 5 is a detail of the fluid seal between the outer edges of the transfer drum sections.

In the drawings 10 is alreservoir or tank of any suitable size, shape or material and open at the top. It is provided with a vertically placed partition 11 which extends above the top of the tank and which is in turn provided with a suitable aperture indicated at 12 to communicate with a drainage conduit 13 leading out of the tank. It is also provided with an aperture indicated at 14 and leading to a suitable vacuumproducing means as an exhaust fan or blower (not shown).

Mounted to rotate in suitable bearings formed in the sides of the tank 10 is a shaft Q0 rotated from a suitable source of power (not shown) and rigidly secured to the shaft by any suitable means, as a key 21, is

The material of a drum 22 in the general shape of the frustum of a cone and having one end closed by a partition 23 and its opposite end open and provided with a peripheral flange 21, the edge of which is adapted to revolve in contact with the partition 11. The curved surface of the drinn is made of any suitable foraminous material for instance woven wire fabric Over this is placed a peculiar elastic surface made by winding spirally around the drum tubing made of coiled wire 20 and preferably somewhat elliptical in its coils. The coils are intermeshed as indicated in Figs. Q and 5, so as to form over the entire surface of the drum an even elastic but strong mat or cover, expanded or of open-work construction. so as to provide fluid passages therethrough longitudinally and transversely, as well as from the inside to the outside. Over this surface is placed a somewhat loosely woven blanket 27. The drum is radially divided into sections or compartments by means of radial partitions QS and at the end of each partition and arranged transversely across and between the coiled wires is `ar 'anged a fluid seal made of soft rubber 29 or other suitable material. to prevent the passage of air from one drum colnpartment to another longitudinally of the expanded cover. Arranged above the drum :22 and adapted to revolve in contact therewith is the inner member 30 of a mold. which is mounted upon a shaft 31 driven from` a source of power (not shown). Arranged at one side of the drum is a revolving brush 35 having a cylindrical body 36 the interior of which is connected to a vacuum -producing means as an exhaust fan (not shown) by means of a conduit 3T.

lIn the operation of the device the tank 10 is filled with .water in which is diffused the wood pulp. with or without other materials.I

The drum :22 being rotated` a` certain portion of the pulp in the water clings to its blanket- `adhering to thel cylindrical segments from which the air is thus exhausted. The sealing material 29 prevents the air from leaking laterally fromI one compartment to anotherwhereby the creation of a. partial vacuum in a compartment as it rises from the tank is made possible. The drum continuing to revolve, the pulp on its surface is next brought into contact with the mold 30, and then transferred to said mold. The elasticity of the woven wire surface of the drum and its coiled wire cushion and outer blanket is sufficient to effect this transfer. Any number of layers of the material may be rolled against and transferred to the mold. its surfaceis cleaned by the brush in combination with the air exhaust in its cylinder which tends to remove from the drum any particles of the pulp which may yet adhere to it.

.Vhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described` a drum having a body of foraminous material in combination with an outer layer of intermeshed coiled wire.

Q. In an apparatus of the character described. a drum having `a body of foraminous material in combination with an outer layer of intermeshed coiled. wire spirally wound around the foraminous material.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a drum having a body of foraminous material in combination with an outer laver of intermeshed coiled wire and a further outside surface of blanket.

4. In an apparatus of the character described. a drum having a body of forami nous material in combination with an outer layer of `intermeshed coiled wire spirally wound around the forminous material and a further outside surface of blanket.

Inan apparatus of the character described. a drum of woven wire or similar materiaL and an elastic body formed therecoils.

`7. In an apparatus of the character described. a drum of woven wire'or similar material, an elastic body formed thereon by spirally winding coiled -wi're around the same and an outer layer of blanket or similar textile material.

S. In an apparatus of the character described. a drum of woven wireor similar material, an elastic body formed thereon by rIhe drinn continues to revolve and spirally winding coiled wire around the same and inter-meshing the adjacent spiral coils and an outer layer of blanket or similar textile material.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a drum having a body of foraminous material in combination with an outer layer of intermeshed coiled wire and one or more longitudinal ribsof fluid sealing material arranged within the wire layer.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a drinn having a body of foraminous material in combination with an outer layer of intermeslied coiled wire spirall v wound around the foraminous material and longitudinal ribs of Huid sealing material arranged across the spiral windings.

ll. In an apparatus of the character described. a drum of woven wire or similar material, an elastic body formed thereon b v spirally winding coiled wire around the same and sheets of elastic fluid sealing material arranged transversely of the sp'iral coils.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a drum of woven wire or similar material. an elastic body formed thereon b v spirally winding coiled wire around the same and sheets of soft rubber arranged across the coils.

13. In combination, a tank, a partition therein extending outside of t-he tank. a drainage conduit leading from the partition. a drum closed at one end and adapted to contact with the partition at its opposite end. and means for dividing the drum into sectors and means for cleaning the outer surface of the drum, lincluding a brush and means for connecting the interior of the brush with vacuum producing means.

14. In combination, a tank. a partition therein extending outside of the tank. a drainage conduit leading from the partition, al drum closed at one end and adapted to contact with the partition at its opposite end, and means for dividing `the drum into sectors and a mold adapted to be revolved in contact with the drum and means for cleaning the outer surface of the drum, including a brush and means for connecting'the interior of the brush with vacuum producing means.

In testimony whereof I aiix-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDIVARD J. NOBLE. lVitnesses CLARENCE G. CAMrELL, A. (`.McDoNNi:LL. 

